Bioethics is philosophical study of the moral arguments brought about by biotechnological advancement. There are three major biotechnology practices that have been fiercely fought by activists: The Human Genome Project, Stem Cell Research, and Industrialized Agriculture.
The Human Genome Project (HGP) aims to identify and map the human genome, which is compromised of approximately 25,000 genes. There are those who feel that this unprecedented advancement in medical technology will lead to immoral practices. There is a fear that if an individual’s genome is available to the public, insurance companies will taken advantage of those people more susceptible to certain diseases. There is also the question of the extent to which this research should be followed. Is cloning entire beings immoral in comparison to cloning just organs? The physiology of a pig is very similar to that of a human. Since pigs have been successfully cloned, the possibility of human cloning is very real. This will be possible; maybe even during our lifetime, so the question has been raised - are we stretching the boundaries of nature too far?
Stem Cell Research (SCR) holds many ethical complications in regards to the definition of a human being and human rights. While stem cells have the potential to ease the psychological and physical pain of the suffering (ex. paraplegics), there is a heavy price. Some people who are “pro” SCR argue that an embryo is not human; that a human being’s rights are only implied subsequent to birth. Other SCR sympathizers hold the moral implications in high regard, but respect the woman’s choice in aborting an unwanted pregnancy. These SCR sympathizers believe that an aborted embryo should not go to waste if it has the potential to benefit humanity and the advancement of medicine. The complication increases in laboratory created human embryos, created by the eggs of female volunteers. Many pro-life organizations and individuals believe that the concept of destroying a blastocyst, or laboratory-fertilized egg, is immoral; that the idea of creation for the intention of death is inhumane. Those who are pro-life believe that more attention should be given to adult stem cell and umbilical cord research and this laboratory practice of destroying blastocysts should be discontinued.
Industrialized agriculture refers to the use of machines and other technologies to more increase production rates of agricultural goods. Corporate industrial farming is growing at a tremendous speed, and as the demand for cheaper and more accessible meat and dairy products rises, the market will meet that demand. Domesticated animals are pushed to the threshold, to their highest productivity. Many governments have now installed subsidies for industrialized farmers that are correlated with "efficiency". This efficiency often involves cruelty to animals, cramming as many as possible into the smallest space for the least cost and greatest profit. Many organizations condemn this abuse, calling for better animal conditions. Public health and the environment have been negatively effected in order to increase the rate of production. There are cases in which animal waste is dumped into rivers and overly-aggressive agriculture has depleted nutrients from the soil to a dangerous low. Are our products really becoming cheaper? Domesticated crops could also cross-pollinate with their wild relatives, which could lead to severe effects. One example would be the creation of insect repellent plants, which would hinder the pollination of the species, or cause severe allergic reactions.
Moral Implications of Biotechnology: Bioethics
Bioethics is philosophical study of the moral arguments brought about by biotechnological advancement. There are three major biotechnology practices that have been fiercely fought by activists: The Human Genome Project, Stem Cell Research, and Industrialized Agriculture.
The Human Genome Project (HGP) aims to identify and map the human genome, which is compromised of approximately 25,000 genes. There are those who feel that this unprecedented advancement in medical technology will lead to immoral practices. There is a fear that if an individual’s genome is available to the public, insurance companies will taken advantage of those people more susceptible to certain diseases. There is also the question of the extent to which this research should be followed. Is cloning entire beings immoral in comparison to cloning just organs? The physiology of a pig is very similar to that of a human. Since pigs have been successfully cloned, the possibility of human cloning is very real. This will be possible; maybe even during our lifetime, so the question has been raised - are we stretching the boundaries of nature too far?
Stem Cell Research (SCR) holds many ethical complications in regards to the definition of a human being and human rights. While stem cells have the potential to ease the psychological and physical pain of the suffering (ex. paraplegics), there is a heavy price. Some people who are “pro” SCR argue that an embryo is not human; that a human being’s rights are only implied subsequent to birth. Other SCR sympathizers hold the moral implications in high regard, but respect the woman’s choice in aborting an unwanted pregnancy. These SCR sympathizers believe that an aborted embryo should not go to waste if it has the potential to benefit humanity and the advancement of medicine. The complication increases in laboratory created human embryos, created by the eggs of female volunteers. Many pro-life organizations and individuals believe that the concept of destroying a blastocyst, or laboratory-fertilized egg, is immoral; that the idea of creation for the intention of death is inhumane. Those who are pro-life believe that more attention should be given to adult stem cell and umbilical cord research and this laboratory practice of destroying blastocysts should be discontinued.
Industrialized agriculture refers to the use of machines and other technologies to more increase production rates of agricultural goods. Corporate industrial farming is growing at a tremendous speed, and as the demand for cheaper and more accessible meat and dairy products rises, the market will meet that demand. Domesticated animals are pushed to the threshold, to their highest productivity. Many governments have now installed subsidies for industrialized farmers that are correlated with "efficiency". This efficiency often involves cruelty to animals, cramming as many as possible into the smallest space for the least cost and greatest profit. Many organizations condemn this abuse, calling for better animal conditions. Public health and the environment have been negatively effected in order to increase the rate of production. There are cases in which animal waste is dumped into rivers and overly-aggressive agriculture has depleted nutrients from the soil to a dangerous low. Are our products really becoming cheaper? Domesticated crops could also cross-pollinate with their wild relatives, which could lead to severe effects. One example would be the creation of insect repellent plants, which would hinder the pollination of the species, or cause severe allergic reactions.